Ten thousand years ago, a star about the same size as our Sun exploded. While this has been known for centuries as the Eskimo Nebula - because when viewed in a low-power telescope, it looks like a man's head covered by an eskimo-style parka - the Hubble Space Telescope showed the beautiful destruction that remains. The debris eventually forms new solar systems, and so, Shiva-like, is an engine of creation as well.
Stardust.
Back on Planet Earth, the Internet is exploding business models, most notably for the Recording Industry. Dinosaurs like me still like CDs, but some folks ask why buy it when you can download it for free? The studios are in Big Trouble, and you don't need something as powerful as the Hubble to see it.
But Shiva-like, new worlds are forming. Through the miracle that is Al Gore's Intertubes, we find Beautiful Destruction, a song by Leesha Harvey.
If you like Sarah McLaughlin, you'll like her. Unlike McLaughlin, Harvey has an amazing Internet story:
Who knew that a guitar, a web cam, and an internet connection could lead to a career change?
Leesha had played music for years in a variety of venues but never considered it more than a hobby. But in 2007, on a whim, she started posting videos of her singing her original songs on YouTube. Within months, her videos were receiving thousands of hits, and fans were asking, “Where can I buy the CD?”
You can download her music here. Free. It looks like she's in Nebraska, so if you're there too, you might want to catch one of her shows. The rest of us will have to catch her on Youtube.A new music industry is forming from the stardust you find with a camcorder, a broadband connection, and incredible talent. I am Shiva, destroyer of
3 comments:
A guitar, a web cam, and the Internet - and God Bless Nebraska, is this a GREAT country or what?
The Internet is changing a lot of things, some for better, some for worse. This is one of the better ones.
Just as no longer can the Legacy Media act as gate keepers of news, the recording industry can no longer act as gate keepers for talent.
The best (or worst) part is that this is just the beginning. Heinlein, who really invented the concept, would be proud.
As much as I hate to be late to the party, I have to admire the comparison between she and Sarah Mclachlan. Their musical styles are loosely comparable and they both have beautiful voices. Thanks for the link.
I don't mean to pass over the thoughtful astronomy content, either. Well done.
Jim
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